Amanda glanced worriedly in Jesse's direction as they walked along the corridor toward the ICU lounge. She was concerned for Mark's state of mind and Steve's health, and now she was adding Jesse to the list. The silence that existed all the way down the corridor and continued once they stepped into the room was completely unlike her usually exuberant friend. She would at least have expected to hear him running through treatment scenarios, or relating his concern for Mark or Steve or both.

As they came to a halt before the coffeepot and she carefully measured out a cup for Mark and herself, she studied him from the corner of her eye. There was a bone-weariness to the line of his shoulders and shadows beneath his eyes. He didn't even seem to notice her silent contemplation of him, but stared vacantly ahead.

"When was the last time you rested," she asked gently, startling him slightly from his stupor.

He shrugged carelessly and reached for a paper cup. "I don't need any rest just yet. I want to see Steve through this course of treatment, then I'll grab a couple of hours in the on-call room."

"No," Amanda rested a hand on his arm, halting his motion toward the coffeepot, then directed him toward the refrigerator. "You'll have something nice, nutritious and non-caffeinated and then you'll grab a couple of hours now. It'll be several hours before we see any improvement anyway."

Jesse let himself be led toward the refrigerator with little resistance, but he argued the point. "I'd really like to keep an eye on him myself. Watch his vitals, you know. I don't want to miss anything."

"You've already worked a double shift, Jesse," Amanda responded. "After which you went with Mark out to Malibu and got Steve and brought him back here. You're clearly physically and mentally exhausted. If you don't allow your mind and body to rest while you have the chance, it will fail you when you need it most."

She knew her logic was getting through to him because he shifted uncomfortably and an endearingly vulnerable expression crossed his face. "He's my best friend, Amanda. And I just want to be there for him. You know, make sure he's really taken care of. I don't want him to have to wait for anything."

Amanda folded her arms over her chest and gave him her best stern look. "Steve and Mark are dear friends to me, too. And I'll little you in on a little secret. They teach us pathologists how to take care of patients, too. I'll make sure he's taken care of."

Jesse nodded reluctantly. "Okay. Just for a few hours." He smiled at her, then gestured toward the door. "Maybe we should get Mark his coffee before it gets cold, or did you have something nice and nutritious and non-caffeinated for him, too?"

Amanda winked at him as she quickly poured out the coffee and grabbed a package of crackers, fruit and a container of milk for Mark. When they stepped into the room, she was all geared up for the argument she was sure to get from the older man. But the sight of him brought them both to a halt.

His head was cradled in his arm on the edge of the bed, while one hand was still closed around Steve's. Both men were deeply asleep.

In unspoken agreement they both backed out of the room. "Get some rest, Jesse. I'll take care of them both. I'll call you myself if there's any change. I promise."

Jesse took one last look at the monitors, then nodded his agreement just as a yawn overtook him. Amanda smiled a satisfied smile as she watched him leave the room, a banana sticking out of his pocket and a package of crackers and a juice in his hands.

Having seen Jesse off, she turned back toward the two men in the room. They and Jesse were three of the dearest men in her life, and they were all in trouble in one way or another. She would do everything in her power to take care of them.

With the help of an orderly, she managed to half-coax, half carry Mark to a bed in a neighboring cubicle. She then quietly rearranged the privacy curtain so that when he woke he could easily see his son.

Those missions accomplished, she settled in to wait. As she sat in the chair that Mark had only recently vacated, her eyes drifted toward a window on the far side of the room. It appeared that the rain had finally stopped.

*

A little over four hours later, Amanda double-checked what the machines were indicating. She smiled at the young nurse who was quietly assisting. The readings were looking much better. While his temperature wasn't quite back in the normal range, it was significantly lower and the cooling blanket was no longer necessary.

Further, the antibiotics that Jesse had prescribed seemed to be very effectively combating the bacterial pneumonia. Steve's oxygen sats were improved as well. It was time to get the promised message to Jesse, and then she fully intended to make him go back to sleep. It was only two hours until his shift was due to start.

*

Mark jerked slightly, then opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the white ceiling above his head before remembering that he was at Community General. The memory of climbing into the bed was somewhat hazy, but he remembered that Amanda had been involved.

Then the rest of it came back, the whole reason why he was there. Turning his head sharply, he caught sight of Steve lying in the other bed.

Steve made a soft, barely audible sound and stirred slightly. Even such a small motion spurred Mark to action. He was on his feet and around the bed within moments. His heart jumped as he caught sight of the readings on the machines. There was definite positive improvement. His gaze was drawn downward again as Steve released a quiet moan, and shifted his head minutely to the side.